The journey starts with a comfortable 3.8 km hike up the slop of a volcano to the rim of the crater. Next follows an almost 175 meters vertical drop down into the steaming, smoking gut of the volcano. The porters then need to protect their faces with mostly a wet rug and step right into the poisonous fumes and chip out blocks of the hardened sulfur with which they fill two baskets weighting each about 35-40 kg. A bamboo stick then connects the basket and the porters carry the load back up to the rim of the volcano and then almost 4 kilometers down to the collection point. The entire journey for one load takes approximately 5 hours for which the porters receives 800 Rupiahs (7 cent US) per kilogram.

The mathematics

One porter makes two trips daily, and this six days in a row, and then has to rest for one week.

800 Rupiahs per kg x 70 = Rp.56’000

2 loads a day = Rp.112’00

All this hard work for less then = US$ 10 a day

Average life expectation 45 years

Please Help

During our journeys to East Java we have met, and become friends with many of these porters. We now have committed ourselves to help these brutally hard working porters and their families as often as possible with clothes and some financial assistance. At least 3 times a year we load up a small truck full of essentials and drive for four hours across Bali. In Gilimanuk we board a ferry for an hour and continue our journey in East Java where it will take a further three hours to reach the remote but exceptionally picturesque caldera of Kawah Ijen.

Clothes

Obviously we always have plenty of empty space on our pick up truck and as a result we work hard to fill up all the empty space with your old clothes. We are certain that in your wardrobe you have plenty of linen that you have not worn for the past 12 months, making it an absolute nuisance to keep them any longer. They get dusty moldy and for certain they are badly out of fashion. As you very well know , we always run out of storage areas and periodic clearing is always most welcome. Please keep in mind that the mining area for the sulfur is at an elevation of 1500 meters over sea level and as such nights can be bitterly cold. This again means that even winter or baby clothes are most welcome. Unfortunately ball room dresses are not of much use……

Update from our January 2014 excursion

We are happy to share with you some images from our latest trip to East Java in late January 2014 where we where able to help a total of 263 Sulfur Porters. This time 14 of our team members from the restaurants took time off to assist with the fair distribution of lots of little goodies. This time each porter received a mask, a special type of working shoe, a packet of cloth as part of your donations, and one days wage. Despite the fact that all your kind donations bring a little sunshine into the brutal life’s of these porters, this trips continue to break our hearts, for knowing that only a few hours from a very comfortable life style in Bali, people virtually kill themselves to make a living. Especially when you consider that the sulfur they carry eventually makes our comfortable life style even better and more enjoyable. Most sulfur is used in the cosmetic and food manufacturing industry.

Providing a future for kids

It makes us incredible proud that with your generous help we where able to proving funding for 32 children of of these porters to go to school for one year. As part of our last visit we visit the school directly and handed over funds in return for proper documentations. This will guarantee that each and every Rupiah donated will reach the people in need. US$100 will provide a brighter future for one child. Perhaps you like to sponsor one child? As part of our next visit in April we will support 26 more children and at the same time assist the school with audio visual equipment’s and desperately needed computers.

Searching for a creative design

As we can see from the above images the load between 60 to 100 kg sits always on one shoulder. Frequently during their brutal 4.5 km journey the load moves from one shoulder to the other. Meaning that the entire load weights continuously down on one shoulder. Anyone ever carried 75 kg (most of us struggle with 30 kg) know that this is a serious inhumane task. Now there is no point of thinking of developing mechanical ways of mining, which would mean no more work and income for many of the porters. Why not to design a yoke like device, perhaps manufactured by super strong, light weight and bouncing carbon fiber, that allows to attach two baskets. The carbon fiber device bends around the neck and is cushioned by some sort of material offering some protection to the bear skin. It would be amazing if as part of an engineering project a university could design a device that makes the brutally hard work of the porters a little more bearable.

Donate generously

Perhaps you wish to join us in our efforts to bring just a little sunshine into the dull lives of these incredible hard working people. To do so, simply bring your aged cloth to Bali, give us a call and we will pick them up from your hotel. We will wash each piece and make 100% certain that each and every piece of cloth or shoes will reach the right person.

Regardless how big or small your contribution, it will bring a little glimpse of hope for a better life. You can make a great difference in a harsh world.

Giving and helping has to be one of the greatest joys in life

TREKKING ADVENTURES

On IndoVolcano.com we present a collection of stories from our never-ending desire to reach every mountaintop in Indonesia that is over 2000 meters. Every journey to these peaks leads us into different parts and regions of Indonesia which offer completely unique cultural aspects and traditions. Never would I leave home without bringing at least one camera to document these journeys visually, which resulted in thousands of great images from these rugged escapes.

BALINESE NIGHT MARKET

Built on the success of Bumbu Bali, Restaurant & Cooking School, we continue with our efforts to bring Balinese food another step closer to the interested gourmet travelers and to people who enjoy sampling the delightful flavors of another culture. Only a few hundred meters away from Bumbu Bali and within our very own Bed & Breakfast accommodation, Rumah Bali, we have crafted a market restaurant in a magnificent Balinese setting. Each building is designed following the principles of ancient Balinese architecture. Each pavilion represents a building one would find within a village community, including home compounds, temples, town meeting halls, gambling pavilions or areas where people simply get together and rest. Imagine sitting in the midst of a Balinese village market enjoying the best dishes our island has to offer, and at the same time being confident you are in a perfectly clean and safe environment and being thoroughly looked after by hospitality professionals.

MISSION STATEMENT

# 1 Bumbu Bali and Rumah Bali provide an unforgettable culinary and cultural experience by integrating the mystic style of Bali and its people with the finest produces of the island in a modern yet traditional contemporary setting.
# 2 We are recognized by our guests and competitors as the leading Balinese restaurants in Bali, serving specialties from all regions of the world’s largest archipelago, and the freshest available seafood in an innovative, modern and tasteful way.
# 3 Innovative, creative, value for money, and foremost very consistent in our service and products are some of our strongest points.
# 4 Our guests expectation are always exceeded due to our warm, caring, accommodating and professional staff who constantly provide genuine and consistent service.
# 5 We foster good relationships with the government and local authorities by promoting the culture and protecting the environment of Bali.
# 6 We always treat each other with genuine care and respect and commit ourselves to continue training and development. As a result, we see our home stay resort as a warm and positive working environment and consider ourselves a big happy family.